New Zealand Ice Figure Skating Association Inc.
New Zealand Ice Figure Skating Association Inc.
NZIFSA
NZIFSA

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Coaches

Coach Members of the New Zealand Ice Figure Skating Association. Information available here has been provided by the coaches and has not been verified by the NZIFSA. Applications for Coach Membership may be found here.

Auckland

Bess Cao
ph: 0211993222
Singles · Synchronized
NZIFSA level 3 Coaching Accreditation
Skated competitively in China for 8 years.
National Novice Ladies Champion, Junior Champion, Podium places from 2004-2007 in China.
Compete at Senior level in China for 2 years 2008-2010.
Skaters won Champions at NZ National for consecutive 7 years.
Skaters attended several years of ISU listed Competitions,Junior World & JGP and Youth Olympic Medalist

Rosie Armstrong
ph: 0274847080
Singles
NZIFSA Level 3 Coaching Accreditation
Competed Junior Worlds, 9 International Competitions, World Championships
1983-1993 - Trained periodically overseas under world and Olympic coaches.
Nominated for Winter Olympics
NZIFSA Gold Free & Figures medal tests, Inter-silver dance
Canadian & Australian National Coaching Certificate, Sport Specific

Neske Groenewegen
ph: 020 4088 0282
Singles · Synchronized
NZIFSA Level 2 Coaching Accreditation
Singles and Synchronized
NZ rep for singles and synchronized skating

Cordelia Shi
ph: 021 233 0510
Singles · Pairs · Synchronized
NZIFSA Level 2 Coach
NZ Rep (at AU nationals 2017,2018,2019)
Current national competitor
Studying conjoint degrees in Science & Art
Majoring in education, psychology & sociology

Tracy Hipkiss
ph: 02102277737
Singles · Synchronized
NZIFSA Level 2 Coaching Accreditation
- Solo skating and Synchronised skating coach
- taken both solo skaters and synchro teams to Australian nationals
- 9 years private coaching experience
- NZ Junior ladies Champion 2014
- Competed at ISU JGPs and development Trophies (2014 -`2016)

Yasmin Walker
ph: 021 070 6934
Singles · Dance · Synchronized
NZIFSA Level 2 Coaching Accreditation
-3x USA National Competitor
-2x International Competitor with Los Angeles Ice Theater - Senior
-5 years of experience teaching studio dance and skating with a focus on choreography
My goal in coaching is to inspire my skaters to love the sport and pursue their dreams.

Vanessa Preston
ph: 021 0810 3069
Singles · Synchronized
NZIFSA Level 2 Coach
-Experience coaching diverse age range, coaching skaters to national level.
- 1st place at the Australian Figure Skating Championships in 2019.
-3rd in Hevelius cup, Poland & Trophy D’ecosse, Scotland 2024.

Sarah MacGibbon
ph: 0223019098
Singles
NZIFSA Level 3 Coaching Accreditation
10+ years of private coaching experience
NZ Senior Ladies Champion (2013)
Represented NZ at Junior Grand Prix, Winter Games, Australian Nationals and other Internationals
Coached students to NZ National Level

Sabrina Snoad
ph: 0274518361
Singles · Synchronized
NZIFSA Level 2 Coaching Accreditation
Dani Gebser
ph: 02108107851
Singles · Dance · Pairs · Synchronized
NZIFSA Level 2 Coach
Represented NZ in USA, China & Australia
2023 NZ Senior National Champion
2023 Oceania International Senior Women Champion
2023 Hollins Trophy International Senior Women Champion
2020 NZ Junior Ladies National Champion
ISU Junior Grand Prix 2019
3x consecutive NSW State Champion & 3x Australian National medalist
Studying a Bachelor's degree at AUT

Samantha Kuri
ph: 0225211030
Singles · Dance · Pairs · Synchronized
NZIFSA Level 2 Coach Accreditation
- coaching all levels & ages since 2005
- competed for Germany in singles, ice dance & synchro
- 2017 European champion in synchronized skating
- Yoga teacher, ballet teacher, master degree of education
- regularly attending coaches seminars in Europe & Canada
- Technical specialist in singles & training for TS Ice Dance

Gordon Rushton
ph: 021 166 4549
Singles
NZIFSA Level 2 Coaching Accreditation
- Canadian Gold Figure, Gold Free skate, Gold Competitive & Gold Dance
- Canadian NCCP Level 1 Course
- Have coached many NZ champions at all levels, Coached NZ skaters at Junior Worlds, Internationals and World Championships.
- 37 years of coaching experience

Debbie Darvill
ph: 021 2517261
Singles · Dance
NZIFSA Level 3 Singles and Dance Coaching Accreditation
- Coaching since 1978
- 5 years International training in tests and coaching
- Up skill regularly
- Member of ISU coach mentored program for Ice Dance
- ISU recognised New Zealand Ice dance coach mentor


Canada

Preeya Laud

Singles · Synchronized
NZIFSA Level 2 Coaching Accreditation
Bachelor in Sport Science
Postgraduate certificate in sport science
NZ Rep Solo and Synchro
National Competitor in Solo and Synchro
Trained in Australia, NZ and USA
Taken students to nationals and international competitions
Currently residing in Canada.


Christchurch

Ann Campbell
ph: 021 140 7739
Singles · Dance · Synchronized
NZIFSA Level 3 Coaching Accreditation
- Australia Coaching Level 1
- Australia Coaching Level 2 - Part A
- Highlights - Coaching Results - 1st Masters, Intermediate Ladies, Men's, Open Synchro, Juvenile Dance. 2nd Australian Mens, 2nd Junior Syncro, Gold Star Stroking
- Personal Results - 1st Senior Dance, Senior Pairs, Intermediate Ladies, Junior Aussie Dance

Rivers Richens
ph: 021 083 42 983
Singles
NZIFSA Level 2 Coach
Currently studying BA Sport Coaching and BA Biological Sciences
Competed at NZ national 2013 - 2018
International NZ team - 2017
5+ years coaching experience
As a coach, I force on celebrating skaters' progress and every personal achievement

Caitlyn Paul
ph: 021 150 1865
Singles · Dance · Pairs · Synchronized
NZIFSA Level 3 Coaching Accreditation
- BA Sports Coaching
- Gold Star Stroking / Inter-Gold Freeskate
- New Zealand Rep in Singles (Intermediate - Senior Ladies)
- 2010 New Zealand Senior Synchronized team.
- 20+ years' coaching experience

Michelle Russell
ph: 021-778-202
Singles
NZIFSA Level 3 Coaching Accreditation
- Inter Gold Free Skate and Gold Star Stroking Medal Tests
- Sport Canterbury Level 1 Coaching Accreditation
- Level 1 Australia Sports Specific Accreditation
- Bachelor Physical Education + qualified personal trainer
- Post-Grad Diploma in Rehabilitation
- Post-Grad Diploma in Sports Medicine

Marina Tsevina
ph: 021 140 5557
Singles
NZIFSA Level 3 Coaching Accreditation
- Master Degree of Sport and Physical Education
- Post-Grad Choreography of Figure Skating in Moscow State Academy of Theatre Art and Ballet
- 20+ years experience as a coach at Sport School of Olympic Reserve
- My trainees have repeatedly become winners, prize-takers and participants, Ukrainian, USSR and International Competitions


Dunedin

Kaho Hirafune
ph: 022188 5637
Singles
NZIFSA Level 2 Coaching Accreditation
NZL Team Leader at World Figure Skating Championships 2023
University of Otago Performance Scholarship recipient
Former NZ Rep

Tanya Bakerman-Fulton
ph: 02041827655
Singles · Pairs
NZIFSA Level 2 Coaching Accreditation
- Principal pair skater for Disney on Ice, Royal Caribbean Cruise ships, Willy Beitak Productions. 2007-2018
- ISI Freestyle 10 World Champion 2006
- USA National and international pairs competitor

Megan Kliegl
ph: 027-631 9857
Singles · Synchronized
NZIFSA Level 2 Coaching Accreditation
- Ex-New Zealand Synchronised Skating Champion
- Competed at World Championships
- Director of Dunedin Ice Shows
- Represented South Africa and New Zealand

Stephanie Woodacre
ph: 021 025 905 25
Singles · Synchronized
NZIFSA level 3 Singles Coaching Accreditation
-NCCP Level 2 (UK qualification)
-Professional show skater with Stageworks Worldwide Productions.
-Coached figure skating in Scotland, Norway, England and New Zealand.

Ricky Cockerill
ph: 0274181889
Singles
NZIFSA Level 2 Coaching Accreditation
Ricky has been involved in the figure skating world for nearly 35 years.
He fell in love with the sport and competed for over 18 years eventually
representing New Zealand in multiple international competitions including 3 world championships.
Ricky enjoys coaching all aspects of singles skating and specialises as a jump coach


Gore

Simone Thornett
ph: 0272297550
Singles · Pairs
NZIFSA Level 2 Coaching Accreditation
Ice Skating Coach in GB
I Coach development classes, Private Lessons,Kiwi Skate
I have many years of coaching experience.
I have had students compete at national level
I reached level 8 standard in my individual skating and was a competitor all over GB.
NZQA National certificate in recreation and sport level 4


Queenstown

Millie Pridham
ph: 0274209584
Singles
NZIFSA Level 2 Coaching Accreditation
Gold Star Stroking/ Inter Gold Free skate
Rep NZ 2006-2011
Bachelor of applied science Majoring in sport and nutrition

Aly McDougal

Singles
NZIFSA Level 2 Coaching Accreditation
My philosophy is to be an uplifting coach to my athletes of all ages, level, and skill. Students Achievements: Pre-Gold Skating Skills, Competing Pre-Silver Singles at U.S. National Qualifying Series 2022 & 2023, Double Axel and Triple Salchow. etc.